Fall of Fair Isle

This trilogy has been very popular with readers. Even though the first book was published in 1999, people still arrive at events with much-read copies for me to sign. They tell me how they’ve searched high and low for the third book, (an Omnibus called The Shadow Kingdom) which sold out in Australia and was never reprinted. (Desperate Alliances is the US edition of the third book).

Fall of Fair Isle BREAKING NEWS

Solaris have bought the rights to release this trilogy as an omnibus edition, in print and e-books, March 2015.

The Fall of Fair Isle tells a more intimate tale than The Outcast Chronicles. It begins where most fantasy books finish – after the great battle.

After the Ghebites invade Fair Isle, Imoshen (named for her ancestor, Imoshen the First) is the last surviving member of the royal family. She has to work with General Tulkhan, the Ghebite invader, to save herself, her people and her way of life. Hers is a matriarchal society, his is patriarchal society where the men can take three or four wives. The Ghebites fear the T’En, who they regard as closer to animals than True-men.

As for the T’En, when Imoshen the first led her people to this land, she told them to take partners from the locals, so that they would blend in and be accepted. The T’En inter-bred with the original inhabitants of Fair Isle, who were descended from the Ancients (a race of mystical beings) and their blood was diluted until there are very few pure T’En throwbacks. Six hundred years of this has changed the way the T’En gifts are expressed in full-bloods and half-bloods and much knowledge of old T’En lore has been lost. (They call the mystic plane, death’s shadow).

At the core of the trilogy is an exploration of gender politics, as Imoshen and Tulkhan try to find common ground. Despite their differences, they fall in love. To add to the complications, before the invasion Imoshen was betrothed to Reothe, the last of the T’En males. She broke her vows to him, to bond with General Tulkhan. Furious, Reothe leads the rebels in a bid to retake Fair Isle and claim Imoshen. She has to choose between Reothe, who wants to restore the T’En and create a new Golden Age and Tulkhan who is the best of True-men.

The first book won Romantic Mainstream Book of the Year (R*BY) in 2000 and books two and three were finalists in the R*BY.

NOTE: When the trilogy was first published I wrote four books but the publisher closed down the line after the publication of the third book. Much of the world building that I used to create the Outcast Chronicles was from the unpublished fourth book. With the omnibus I have integrated a little more of the back-story into The Fall of Fair Isle trilogy, so that those who have read the OC can see what has happened in the last 600 years. (FoF is set 600 years after the OC).

Thank you so much for your reply – I have just purtchased the three books this morning. two from Amazon, one from Ebay! Can’t wait for them to arrive so I can read them!!! My husband might get a bit annoyed though as I have a tendancy to get “lost” in my books when i enjoy them and only talk to him in the evenings to ask for another mug of tea!!! haha

Thanks for replying – was bouncing around the house for at least an hour after receiving the email!!!

I just wanted to say thank you. My mum bought me the first book in the series when it first came out – I was about ten, and home from school, sick. She thought it was a neat and tidy fantasy novel! lol
Even so, I got addicted to the series. Still searching for the third book, though. Damn them for not reprinting it in Australia! xDD

I accidentally ran across your series while looking for books similar to Game of Thrones. I am so interested in reading all of your books, but I searched on Barnes and Noble.com and even Amazon and it doesn’t show that the Last T’en series is available anymore! :'[

The original series sold out and was never reprinted. I have the rights back and am planning to re-release the trilogy as soon as I can orgnise this. I’ll be making an announcement on my blog in the next month or so.

I’m glad you enjoyed my first trilogy. The Outcast Chronicles tells the story of Imoshen the First, who the Imoshen in the Fall of Fair Isle was named after.

The trilogy you read was an intimate story about people coping in a desperate situation. The Outcast Chronicles has a larger cast and is more about the political intrigue. King Rolen’s king is a rollicking fantasy read.

I do have a sequel to the original trilogy planned and I think I wrote two books, before wandering off on another trilogy. When I have a chance to catch my breath I’ll go into my files and check. I have ot hand in book four of KRK in May.

I read the T’en Omnibus – Dark Alliance a few years back though misplaced it when moving house and the only other copy I can find is about $270 in the US I have to say it’s an amazing book. It was definitely a page turner for me. I have to congratulate you on your work. It was definitely captivating and captured my imagination. I can’t wait until you re-release the books. I would definitely purchase them a second time for my collection.

It’s lovely to hear from people who read my original trilogy. The books are out of print now, which is why they are so expensive on Amazon. As soon as I get them reprinted, I’ll announce it on my blog.

Rowena!!! I’ve been reading reviews of your T’en trilogy these past two days and I’m so excited to read the actual e-/books. Congrats on getting the rights back. I’ve searched high and low for your books. Hope they get released soon. U just found yourself another fan!…and from the pacific island/US territory of Saipan,

I have read and loved these books for a long time. However I have lost the hard copies from many different moves. I now have a kindle but can’t buy these for kindle only hard copies. Will you ever release these for kindle? With beinn Military and constantly moving it is impossible to keep hard copies of my books anymore.

Now that I have a e-reader, I find I’m gathering all my old favourites, which literally fell apart over the years. I will releasing the original trilogy in all e formats, just as soon as I hand in my latest book. (Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to sleep!).

Hi
I came across the outcast chronicles in a charity shop and couldnt put them down. I’m a massive fantasy nerd and these books did not dissapoint. I’ve even got my boyfriend hooked. Cant wait to read some of your other works. But probably should take a break as I may have lost track of time whilst reading them.
Thanks
jacey

I’m a fan of fantasy from waaaay back, so for me the Outcast Chronicles gave me a chance to push the genre to show what it can do. My other series King Rolen’s Kin is more traditional fantasy. It’s the sort of rollicking tale that got you into reading fantasy.

I just finished the Outcast Chronicles and loved them, but I want to know more. What happens after Sanctuary? Do you plan on picking up the story so we can find out if the brotherhoods and sisterhoods put aside their 400 year old rivalry? Where can I read more. I loved this trilogy so much I finished all three books in about 4 days.

Hi Tania. 4 days to read the whole OC trilogy? You must be a speed reader!

When I think of how long it took me to write….

Yes, I do plan to write more. In the meantime I have the original trilogy, which is actually set 600 years later about a descendant of Imoshen’s who is named after her. I plan to republish this, as it is out of print. Will do a post about it when it becomes available.

In a perfect world I would quit my job and write full time, but writing doesn’t pay the bills.

I loved OC and I’m absolutely loving Fall of FI, I was lucky to find the 3 books, they are US version, and I would like to have the original ones once its reprinted, I’m a fantasy junkie. Excellent books!!!
Congrats Rowena!!!

Lovely, to hear from you Lya. I’m cleaning up book four of this original trilogy with the intention of releasing it along with the three books. Just as soon as I can squeeze in the time. Life keeps getting in the way!

My husband and I are really in love with your books. It took us us about 3 days to get through KRK trilogy and when I told him that there was more to come he was over the moon. Recently bought the OC trilogy which I finished this morning and can’t wait to read more, but really difficult to find your books here in south africa especially when you are in a small town. If there are any new release dates for Fall of the Fair Isle in paper back please can’t stand e-books because there is nothing in the world like the smell and feel of a new book. Thanks for the great reads. Why is it that my 2 favourite authors are from australia.

Thanks Rowena
And yes South Africa, my husband suffers from ADHD and for him to read a complete book is a lot but your books he seems to really enjoy. Please tell me there is going to be a follow on of the OC trilogy really want to know what happens to them all.

Bridgette, I am touched to hear that my books held your husband’s attention. I had a comment from a lady who said her husband was dyslexic, and despite this he’d read my trilogy in a week. I felt honoured.

I do have plans for more stories about the OC characters. Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about them. I just have to find the time to write. (Work, 6 kids, 4 still at home, elderly parents and we’ve been renovating for the past two years – sometimes I just want to run away).

Hey Rowena
I just finished reading The shadow kingdom I stumbled on in our local library in South Africa. I came scouting this website to see if there is any chance a book four on this trilogy was out by now. I am delighted to see a comment by you above that you thinking of releasing book four with The fall of fair isle!! Is this still true?? There is still so many un answered questions. I absolutely Loved the story line and the setting grabbed my imagination. It is a very well thought out plot and kept me guessing till the last page! Thank you for an amazing work of art. I can’t wait for it to be released iso I can purchase my own copy. For now I will dive into your other works and I am sure they will give me the same pleasure.

Thank you for your lovely comment. The Shadow Kingdom (now called Fall of Fair Isle) was bought by my publishers, Solaris. They will be releasing it in 2015, as an omnibus. Now that you’ve bought it up, I should release book four when the trilogy comes out.

Meanwhile I’m working on a secret project. If you liked Fall of Fair Isle, you would probably like The Outcast Chronicles. It is set 600 years before FoF and tells the story of the Imoshen who led her people to Fair Isle.